Setting A Good Wedding Budget
Depending on where you live, the average wedding can cost
thousands of dollars. While some are in a position to spare no
cost when planning the perfect wedding day, others simply can't
afford to or would rather see their hard-earned money used for
something more permanent, like a new house.
Weddings are a big business, and if you go the traditional route
by hiring a wedding planner, you can soon see the costs of your
wedding spiraling out of control. While I'm not saying that you
should not hire a wedding expert, they can be a huge help in
planning and organizing your big day, you should do a little
research on your own and come to the planning table with a
strict budget in mind. And when costs seem too high, do not be
afraid to offer some cost-saving ideas of your own. After all,
it's your wedding and your wallet.
The wedding reception is where you will spend the bulk of your
wedding budget, almost 50% of it in fact. So, this is an area
that you should pay particularly close attention to. Most of the
money spent for a reception is spent on alcoholic beverages and
the reception meal. You should shop carefully and keep your
budget in mind when choosing caterers and meal menus. If you are
still having a hard time meeting your budget, you may have to
eliminate alcoholic beverages or cut your guest count to put
your bottom line back in the black.
The bridal gown is also an area where a lot of money can be
spent. Go to the bridal gown store with an idea of what you are
willing to spend on the perfect dress. Browse the discount rack
first before you start looking through the catalogues, you may
be surprised by what you find. Also start shopping well in
advance of the big day. A dress that is too expensive today can
be marked down in the future, but you can't take advantage of
markdowns if you wait till the last minute to find your wedding
gown.
When setting up your budget you also need to factor in the cost
of photography/videography, music, flowers, invitations and
other expenses which can quickly add up. Keep in mind that while
a wedding budget has a strict bottom line, there is plenty of
room to splurge on the more expensive band if you are going to
cut costs somewhere else. So, instead of keeping each aspect of
your wedding day perfectly in line, focus more on what the whole
day is going to cost you and wiggle and adjust until you are
comfortable with what you are spending.